Sandy Bowl Captures Sportsman`s Feature

June 02, 1985|By Neil Milbert.

Sandy Bowl survived a perilous journey to reach the winner`s circle in Saturday night`s $80,000 American National Aged Trot at Sportsman`s Park.

``Twice I thought we were going to have a wreck,`` said driver Neal Shapiro. ``It was a little hairy when we went to the quarter pole (the first time around the track) and again just past the three-quarter pole (the last time around). I was lucky. Somebody up there was watching over me.``

In the second near-collision, T.V. Yankee and Jacinto went out of kilter. But, in doing so, they gave Sandy Bowl the opening he needed to overtake Garland Lobell, who had led throughout the race, and draw away to a 1 1/4-length victory.

Shane T. Hanover, the winner`s Team Nordin entrymate, came in third after stalking Garland Lobell much of the way.

The Team Nordin entry was the 4-to-5 favorite in the field of nine betting interests. T.V. Yankee, second choice at 3 to 1, wound up third.

In winning the second of three starts this year, Sandy Bowl was timed in 1:59 1/5. Last year, as a 3-year-old, the son of 1972 Hambletonian winner Super Bowl captured 9 of 27 starts and earned $553,707.